Paper sheet handling method and mechanism



June 17, 1947. o. MULLER ETAL PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1959 I 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Ml e/Mars 05ml? MULLER 05mm HL-E/NSGHM/T PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM -Fi led June 28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Muentors OSKAR MULLER OSKAR KLls/lvscH/w/ T June 17, 1947.

o. MULLER ET AL PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 W OsKAR KLE/NscHM/T Attamqys June 17, 1947. o, MU LER ET'AL 2,422,629

PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM Filed 'June 28, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 H lnvenlors OSKAR MUL bER Os KA R KLJEI/VSCHMIT June 17, 1947. o. MULLER ET AL 2,422,629

PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1939 9 sheets-sheet 5 I mventars O KAR MULLER June 17, 1947. o. MULLER ET 1. 2,422,629

PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM I Filed June 28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 6' &

//7V/7[0/'5 v OsKAR MULLER.

OsKAR KLJEINSCHM/T a 7' Ev Altar/263s June 17, 1947. O. MULLER ET AL 2,422,629

PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 OsKAR ML'/LLJE O-SKAR KLaE/NSCHM/T a 4 'vj z) Attorneys June 17, 1947. U E ET AL 2,422,629

PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 H mventors OSKAR .MULILJER Os KA R KbE/A/scHM/T June17, 1947. o. MULLER El'AL PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1939. 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 MULLER Patented June 17, 1947 PAPER SHEET HANDLING METHOD AND MECHANISM Oskar Miiller and Oskar Kleinschmit, Leipzig, Germany; vested in the Attorney General of the United States Application June 28, 1939, Serial No. 281,752 In Germany July 9, 1938 Sections 3 and 14, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946. iatent expires July 9, 1958 18 Claims.

This invention relates to paper sheet handling machines such as book-stitching machines in which the individual paper sheets (or signatures) are placed upon a saddle or supporting table and are then carried to a position where an operation, e. g. a stitching operation, is performed upon them.

More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to book-stitching machines of the swinging saddle type where the sheets (or signatures) to be stitched are placed upon a saddle-shaped supporting table adapted to swing up and down to receive the sheets when in its lowered position and to bring them up to and beneath the stitching mechanism upon reaching its uppermost position. The placing of the sheets upon the saddle may be effected manually or in an automatic manner such as by means of a forwarding or throwing movement with the aid of rollers, swingers or slides.

With such machines, particularly when working at the high speeds attained by modern forms thereof, difficulty is experienced in obtaining accurate registration of the various sheets, one with the other. For example, when different qualities of paper are to be included within a single stitched book or pad, it is found that the head ends of the individual sheets are not stitched exactly in register one with the other as desired but that, after stitching they assume a staggered relationship. With high speed operation the ordinary fixed lays (adjustable to different sized sheets) are no longer sufficient because on the one hand there is rebound and thus defective registration due to the very rapid lateral feed of the sheets on to the saddle when the latter is in the sheet-receiving position, and on the other hand the sheets readily slip out of position while the saddle is being moved into the stitching position, with the result of defective stitching as well as frequent needle fracture.

One object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an improved method of sheet-registration which avoids the difficulties hitherto encountered and which includes the steps of bringing the delivered sheet (or signature) into registration against a stop and then holding said sheet in such registered position during its conveyance to the position where the next operation is performed, e. g. the stitching of the sheet. Another object of the invention is to provide sheet-registering mechanism comprising a sheetsupporting and conveying table, a registering stop upon said table, means for bringing a sheet (or signature) received upon said table into abutment with said stop and clamping means operable to maintain said sheet in its registered posi tion against such stop during subsequent movement of said table.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved sheet-registering mechanism for a book-stitching machine of the swinging saddle type and comprising a registering stop upon said saddle, means for moving the sheet into registered position against said stop, a clamping lever movable into and out of clamping engagement with said sheet in its registered position and cam mechanism controlling the movement of said clamping lever and operated during movement of the saddle from its sheet-receiving position to its sheet-stitching position to cause movement of the clamping lever into its sheet-clamping position.

The above and further objects and features of the invention will be better understood from the accompanying detailed description of a number of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a thread book-stitching machine of the swinging saddle type and embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front edge view of part of the sheetsupporting table of the swinging saddle shown in Figs. 1 and 2, drawn to an enlarged scale and shown provided with sheet-registering mechanism adapted for handling sheets whose head ends are arranged at the trailing ends of the sheets as they are delivered to the table;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the table part shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the sheet stop device of the table shown in Figs. 3 and 4, being taken on the line V--V of Fig. 4 and drawn to a still further enlarged scale and showing the device in the open or non-gripping position;

Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5 showing the position when the sheet is gripped by the stop device;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified construction suitable for use with sheets having their head ends leading in the direction of delivery of the sheets to the table:

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the modified arrangement of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of similar character to Fig. 5 taken on the line IXIX of Fig. 8 and showing the stop construction em- 3 ployed in the arrangement of Figs. 7 and 8 when in the open position;

Fig. 10 is a view of the construction shown in Fi 9 when in the closed position;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of part of Fig. 2

as modified for use with the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 to 10;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a modified form of thread book-stitching machine also embodying the invention;

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 12;

Figs. 14 and 15 are enlarged sectional and plan views respectively of the sheet stop and registering device employed in the arrangement shown in Figs. 12 and 13 and when in the rest position, Fig. 14- being a view on the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 15;

Fig. 16 and 1'7 are similar views to Figs. 14 and 15 showing the device in the working position, Fig. 16 being a view on the line XVI--XVI of Fig. 17; while Fig. 18 to 22 are detail views of various parts of the device shown in Figs. 12 to 17, Fig. 22 being a sectional View taken on the line XXII- XXII of Fig. 17.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 it will be seen that the machine gen erally follows the usual construction of swinging saddle type book or signature stitching machines in that it comprises a saddle having supporting arms It and I I mounted at their lower ends upon a shaft i2 journalled in fixed side frame members I3 and I l. The arms I and II carry a sheetsupporting table I at their upper ends. This table is adapted to be swungin known manner from the position shown in Fig. 1, where sheets (or signatures) are fed thereto, to a position where the table and the sheet or signature thereon is located immediately beneath the needles of the stitching mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral It where the sheet (or signature) is stitched to the remainder of the book pad carried upon the table I]. After such stitching operation the table I5 is returned to the original position shown in Fig. 1 to receive a fresh sheet or signature, the previously stitched sheet being automatically withdrawn from the table during such return -movement by its attachment to the remainder of the book pad.

The stitching mechanism It, which may as indicated be provided with backing strip feeding mechanism I8, may be of any known or convenient form and since it forms no part of the present invention-will not be further described.

The swinging movement of the arms I0, I I and the table I5 is effected in usual manner by the engagement of cam follower rollers I9 carried by extensions 28 of the arms Ii), II, within cam grooves 2! of cam discs 22 rigidly secured to the main drive shaft 23, which shaft is journalled in the side frames I3 and I l of the machine.

The sheet supporting table I5 has, at its lefthand side (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), a bar 24 slidably mounted therein. This bar which is preferably arranged with its upper surface flush with the upper surface of the table I5 is disposed parallel with the apex edge '25 of the latter and has a roller 26 pivotally mounted at its leftward end. This roller is urged by a spring 2! (Fig. 4) into engagement with the contoured surface of a cam 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to a fixed part of the machine frame. A sheet stop device 29 for the left-hand side of the table is secured to the slide bar 24 in a manner permitting adjustment I of its position'if desired.

A further slide bar 39 is mounted upgn the tinderside of the sheet-supporting table I5 for movement parallel with the apex edge 25 and the bar 24. This further slide bar 30 carries a roller at its left-hand end (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) for engagement with the forked end of a lever 32 which is pivotally mounted at 33 upon the saddlesupporting arm I9 and has its opposite end provided with a ball M. This ball 3 3 is urged, by a spring connected between the arm ill and the lever 32, into contact with a stationary cam 35 secured to the side frame member I3.

The slide bar 3?; has an arm 31 secured thereto with the aid of a clamping screw 38 in a manner permitting adjustment of the position of such arm longitudinally along the bar. The major portion of the arm 31 is disposed beneath the table I5, but its upper end passes through a slot in the table and has a second stop device indicated generally at 39 secured thereto. This stop device which co-operates with the righthand edge of the sheet (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) is adjustable as to its position relative to the table I5 and to the other stop device 29, by reason of the adjust-ability of the arm 31, for accommodating the mechanism to various sizes of sheets.

The stop device 39 (shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6) comprises a wedge-shaped block ii secured to the arm 31 by a screw 32. Clamped between the block ll and the arm 31 and held by said screw 42 is a leaf spring 43 which is shaped to extend upwardly above the inclined surface did of the block GI and terminates in a head l l overhanging the left-hand edge 4Ib' of said block. This head 44 carries a ball 45 secured in a manner permitting its rotation but preventing its withdrawal or displacement. The lowermost portion of the ball is arranged to project about 1 mm. below the lower surface of the head at. The latter is chamfered as at 46 to facilitate the passage of a sheet edge therebeneath in a manner hereinafter described. A clamping lever 51 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 553. carried in ears extending from the arm 57. This clamping lever which lies within the slot it carries a roller 69 disposed opposite the ball 55 and journalled upon a pin arranged parallel with the slot ii}. The lever 41 is engaged by a compression spring 5i seated within a recess of the block ii and acting to urge the lever downwardly to bring a shoulder thereof into engagement with a side surface of the arm 3'7.

In the slot 40, just to the left of the block 4| and arm 31 a cam member 53 is secured by means of a bolt 54 and a clamping plate 55, the latter and the edges ofthe slot to being suitably shaped, e. g. by .chamfering or by stepping to permit the upper surface of the plate 55 to lie flush with the upper surface of the table I5 and at the same time to allow adjustment of the position of the cam member along the slot 48 in accordance with the adjusted position of the arm 31 and block 4 I. The cam member 53 comprises an arm 56 projecting towards the block 4| and provided with a stepped upper surface 51.

The operation of the mechanism above described is as follows:

The sheet (or signature) S which is to be stitched is introduced (in opened condition) in known manner on to the sheet-supporting table It; of the stitchin saddle in the direction of the arrow 1) (i. e. from theright-hand-side, Figs. 2 and 3) and with its head end trailing or towards the right-hand side of the table I5- Such delivery may be effected in any known or convenient manner, e. g. by hand or automatically for instance by a feeding arrangement, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and comprising a feed table 58 and co-operating feed rollers 59 and 69.

During its passage on to the table [5 the sheet S slides over the stop device 39 by riding up the leaf spring 43 and over the block 4| and finally engages the other stop device 29 by its tai1 end. The arms (9, ll now commence their rocking movement in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1) towards the position where the table l5 and the sheet S thereon are positioned beneath the stitching mechanism l6.

During such movement the roller 26 travels along the cam 28 and is moved towards the right (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) whereby the bar 24 together with the stop device 29 and the sheet S in contact with the latter are also moved towards the right. By such movement the head end of the sheet is brought up against the block 4| of the stop device 39, entering as it does so, beneath the ball 45.

Immediately such movement of the sheet has been effected, the stop device 39 is then moved in a leftward direction by reason of the rocking movement imparted to the lever 32 by the engagement of its ball end 34 with the cam 36 during the swinging-in movement of the arms I9, I l.

Simultaneously the other stop device 29 is also moved leftward (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) by reason of the contour of the cam 28 so that it does not impede the leftward movement of the sheet S and eventually reaches a position clear of the lefthand edges of the sheet. The sheet can, therefore, be flat upon the table IS with its fold seated upon the edge 25.

During the leftward movement of the stop device 39 the head end of the sheet 8 is in engagement with the surface 4lb of the block 4i and is moved thereby. The clamping lever 41 now slides upon the stepped upper surface 51 of the arm 56 whereby the said lever and the roller 49 carried thereby are lifted to effect clampin of the head end of the sheet S against the ball 45. Such clamping effectively prevents any displacement of the sheet S in the longitudinal direction of the table l5, i. e. laterally of the machine. The sheet S is thus effectively held in its proper registered position upon the table l5 and is retained in such position as the arms [0, II continue to move upwardly into the stitching position where the said sheet is stitched by the mechanism [9. Subsequently, when the arms IO, N again move downwardly, the sheet S is withdrawn from between the ball 45 and roller 49 by a movement transverse to that by which it was originally fed, which withdrawal is readily permitted even although the clamping lever 41 is still held raised, by reason of the disposition of the pin 59 carrying the roller 49 in a direction transverse to that of the withdrawal movement of the sheet. Upon the return of the arms Iil, H and the table l5 to their original lowermost position, the various parts are automatically returned to their initial positions in readiness for the feeding of the next sheet and the repetition of the above-described cycle of operation.

Figs. '7 to 11 show a modified form of the embodiment previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6 and adapted for use when the head ends of the sheets are leading in the direction of delivery thereof to the table and accordingly in the arrangement shown have to be registered upon the left-hand side of the sheet-supporting table of the stitching saddle. In this modified 6 construction the construction of the machine generally is similar to that previously described but in this instance the sheet-supporting table I5 is provided with a left-hand stop device 6| and a right-hand stop device 62. v

The stop device 6| comprises a block 63 bolted to the table and provided with apertures slidably receiving two rods 64 riveted within a movable block 65 provided with a projecting sheet guide flap [2. Compression springs 66 surround each of these rods, being located between the blocks 63 and 65 so as to urge the block 65 towards the right (Figs. 7 and 8) until enlarged end-pieces 56a on each of the rods bear against the left-hand face of the block 63.

The block 55 has a lug 55a thereon (Figs. 9 and 19) receiving a pin at for pivotally mounting a clamping lever fiiiprovided with a roller 69 carried by a pin 49 in similar manner to the roller 49 of the previous clamping lever 41. Mounted above the roller 69 for co-operation therewith is a ball H carried in a head 12 secured to one end of a blade spring i3 secured at its other end to the block 63. The clamping lever 68 is urged downwardly by a spring 14 located Within a recess in the block 63 so that its right-hand end rests upon the lower surface of a channel 15 formed along the length of 'a thrust bar 16 which is slidably mounted in the table 55 in similar manner to the bar 24 of the previous embodiment. This bar N5 is provided with a roller 1'. urged by means of a spring '19 in the direction of the arrow (1 to contact the contoured face of a stationary cam '58 secured to the fixed member of the machine frame (Fig. 11).

Adjustably mounted upon the bar 16 is a block 89 provided with a bore housing a compression spring 8i operative upon the enlarged end of a sliding bolt 82 to urge the latter towards the right through a guide aperture in a cover plate 83 secured to the block 89. The outer end of such bolt which passes through said guide aperture is reduced and is adapted to engage the left-hand face of the movable block 55 in a manner hereinafter described. The block 39 is secured in its adjusted position upon the bar it by means of a screw 94 and a clamping plate 85. This latter plate is provided with a chamfered lower surface 855 at its right-hand end for co-operation with an extension Sl of the clamping lever 68.

The right-hand stop device 62 comprises an abutment block 88 mounted upon the free end of an arm 89 which is adjustably mounted upon the slide bar 36 in similar manner to the arm 3'! of the first embodiment. The block 88 may be made resilient in character and is connected with the arm 89 through a slot 99 in the table 15 for permitting its adjustment movement. The bar 30 is provided with a roller 3i as in the previous embodiment for engagement with and movement by the lever 32 which derives its operative movement from the engagement, due to the spring 35, of its ball end 34 with the fixed cam 9| (Fig. 11) secured to the fixed side frame member i3.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows:

The sheet S delivered to the table i5 from the right-hand side thereof in the direction of the arrow (1, passes over the stop device 62 and encounters the other stop device ti with its head end. The sheet S then rests upon the table i5 somewhat as shown in Figs. '1 and 8. Upward movement of the arms I9, Ii now commences to bring the saddle into stitching position. Such movement first causes movement of the rightaea'aeee hand stop device e2 towards the left by reason or the movement imparted to" the slide bar at by theeng-agementof the ball-end 34 of the lever 32 with theca-m 9 I Thebl'ock B3 of the s'top'd'e vice 62, therefore, engages the tail end of the sheet S and thereby moves the latter bodily aloiig the table to bring the headend' of the sheet into abutting-- relationship" with the right-hand face of the block 65; passing; as it does so, beneath the guide flap'l'z and the ballli'. As this position is reachedthe thrust bar Iii-is moved to the right by reason of the engagement of the roller TI thereon-withthe fixed cam18, and in consequence the bo1t82'is brought into engagernent with the block 65 to move the latter to its normal (right-hand) position if for any reason it has not already been moved into such position by the springs 6%.

The above movement of the bar 'Hi and the block 65 causes the engagement of the surface 8% of the clamping plate 85 with the extension 31 of the clamping lever 58120 raise the'latter to eifect clamping of the sheet S between the roller 6% and the ball II. As soon as the sheet thus effectively clamped the stop device 62 is again moved to the right by the action of the' cam 91 upon the lever 32 associated with'the'slide bar as.

The arms IIl', II continue to rise until the sheet-supporting table I-and the sheet S thereon are located in stitching position, the sheet still being held securely clamped against displace ment along the table by means of the roller 69 and ball 'I-I. After stitching, the'arms I0, and the table I5 commence their downward-and return movement; the sheet S being readily withdrawn from between the roller as and ball H owing to the manner of mounting of the former. Upon arrival at its original and lowered'position the table I5 is ready for the feeding of the next sheet and the repetition of the cycle of operation.

The further modified construction shown in Figs. 12 to 22 will now be described. In this em bodiment the sheet-supporting table I5 of the saddle is carried, as before, by supporting arms I0, I I pivotally mounted for swinging movement about the shaft I2 journalled in the side frame members I3, I4 and under the control of cam discs 22 having cam grooves ZI receiving the cam follower rollers 49- of the extensions 20' of the arms I0, II; Thestitching mechanism is indicated generally at IE5 and as the precise constru tion of the machine generally can follow any known or convenient form and does not form part of. the invention it will'not be furtherdescribed.

The sheet-supporting table I5is provided with a registering and clamping. device'IElIl comprising a plate Iiil adjustably secured-to the table I5 by means of a set screw I02 passing through a slot I03 inthe plate into any one of a number of tapped'holes Hi4.- Tothe'plate IOI is secured a block I05 guided within a channel I 06 formed" A stop plate IIO is'slidably' mounted upon the I face of the table I5 by means of guide rods I09 slidable in apertures formed in the plate IOI and by means of projections III slidable in grooves H2 in the table. The stop plate H0 is provided with'a guide flap II3. Springs IIA'surround each guiderod I09 between-the plate IOI- and-the plate- I I'ii and act to urge the latter towards the" right (Fi'gsi 14 to 1'7) as far as the'enlar'ged' ends H 5 of: the rods we will allow.

Also carried by the plate IIl'I' is a lug II'Ii to which is pivotally secured a rocking lever I I! the movement of which is limited in each direction by stops I18, H91 This lever III is-provided with a lug I20 carrying a pin I=2I engaging within a slot l-22'formed in aprojecting portion of a plate I23. This latter plate I23 is carried upon the upper surface of the slide bar I01, being clamped thereto in an adjustable manner by means of a bolt I24 entering a block I25 shaped'tofit within the'bar I'0'I.

Mounted upon the plate I23 is a blade spring I26" to which is secured a block I21 retaining a ball I28' in a manner permitting free rotation of the latter butpreventing its displacement. The block I2? is provided with a dependent lug I29 to which is pivoted a clamping lever I353; The connectionbetween'the latter lever and the lug is effected by the provision of two ears I? I' (Figs. 1&19) disposed one on each sideof the lug and apertured to receive" a pin I32 The clamping lever I313 is pr'ovided'with'an extension I33 adapted to engage beneath the'tongue I63 so as to rock the'leverin an anticlockwise direction while the lever isalso provided'at its right-hand end with roller its" carried in a recess I35- upon a pin I86 This roller is located immediately beneath the bail I23 and o e-operates with the latter in similar manner: to the arrang-ement's-of the previous' embodiments. The clamping lever is normallyurged in a direction separating the ball from the mnerb a'spii'ng It"? located within a recess I3'Ia in the clamping lever.

The bar liil is provided'w-ith a roller I09 at its Ieft ha-ndend (Figs 13 and 17). This roller is maintained engagement with a cam member H19 fixed to a stationary part of' the machine frame by means of aspiring I50.

. The constructionof the registering and clamping-de'vice IDI? iSSLlCh'that' the stop plate IE5 and theclamping means constituted by th'eball I23 and roller Ifi i on lever" liid'can'be'moved" simultaheously to adjust the mechanism to different sized sheets; Thecorrect' adjustment'position for the clamping'means for anyg'iven' position'of the stop plate I'Ill and carrier plate IIII'is immediatelyhetermined" by the limiting stops H8, IIQ for the lever I11? carneu'abeve the stitching saddle is a sheetbr'aking device iridicated generally by the reference numeral I33. This device is adjustably mounted'upona bar- I39; extending transversely across the' machine, in a manner permitting adjustment of the position at which said braking device engages the sheets'as Well as the pressure exerted thereby upon said sheets.

In the example shown this braking device has the form; of a rotatable brush wheel I40, the bristles oi which are inclined as shown in Fig. 20 in-the direction of incidence of the-sheets so that they'rea-dilypass beneath said wheel when travel-- ling on to the table- I5. The wheel I40 isprovided with a one-way clutch, e. g. a ball clutch 0r ratchet device for rotation about an axle pin I4I. The brush wheel is preferably-provided with ballbearings and-isreadily rotated 'by the engagement ofthe-incoming sheet during movement in the feeding direction-of the'latter but; due to the disposition of thebristles and the provision of the one-wayclutch; is'not rotatable in the reverse direction and inconsequence considerably modifies any rebound movement of the sheet from the stop plate III The braking device I38 is arranged to participate in the movement of the table only to a slight extent so that during the swinging-in movement of the stitching saddle during which the registra tion of the sheet is effected, the latter is only initially acted upon by the device I38. For the purpose of allowing this small amount of swinging movement the bar I39 on which the brush carrier I42 is mounted is carried in guide members I43 slidable in arcuate slots I44 formed in plates I45 secured to fixed parts of the machine structure. The movement of the bar I39 is controlled by link. mechanism I46 driven by the main drive shaft 23 of the machine so that the bar swings with the saddle but gradually lags behind it whereby a stroking action of the rush wheel I49 upon the sheet is obtained, to cause the latter to be firmly seated against the apex edge 25 of the table I5.

The manner of operation of this embodiment is as follows: The sheet S advanced e. g. at high speed from the feed table 58 by the feed rollers 59, SI), is introduced with the head end leading on to the table IS in the direction of the arrow e. The sheet first travels beneath the brush wheel I46, the latter rotating freely, and then encounters the stop-plate Hi] to displace it somewhat against the action of the springs II I which subsequently act to restore the stop-plate to its original or rest position. Any tendency of the sheet to rebound is checked by the operation of the braking device I38.

In this position (shown in Figs. 14 and which the sheet now occupies the clamping lever I30 is still lowered and the roller I34therefore separated from the ball I28, due to the action of the spring I31.

Movement of the arms It, II now takes place I to move the table I5 fro-m the lowered sheetreceiving position shown in Fig. 12 to the raised or stitching position beneath the mechanism Iii. As the brush wheel I40 is moved by the link mechanism I46 at a. slower rate than the table I5, said wheel acts upon the sheet S to stroke the latter fiat against the surface of the table and to seat the fold of the sheet firmly against the apex 25 of the table. During the upward movement of the saddle the roller I48 of the slide bar It)? engages the fixed cam I49 and at a; predetermined instant the said bar commences to move against the action of spring I59 towards the left and to carry with it the parts I25, I28, 638 and I34 carried by the plate I23. In consequence of this movement of the plate I23 and the arm having the slot I22 therein, the lever I I7 is rotated about its pivot to engage the protuberance I09 upon the stop plate H0 and thereby to urge the latter towards its right-hand and proper registering position and to lock such stop plate in that position.

Simultaneously the extension I33 of the clamping lever is moved beneath the tongue I53 of the stationary block rocking of the clampinglever I36 to bring the roller I34 towards the ball I28 thereby effectively gripping the sheet S therebetween. The sheet S, thus clamped, now also partakes in the leftward movement imparted to the slide bar IQ'I by the =cam I49 acting upon the roller I48 and is eventually brought with its head end in positive contact with the now locked stop plate I II and registered thereagainst.-

The roller I34 and ball I28 are held in their I 65 and thereby causes the 10 clamping position until after the sheet has been brought into stitching position and stitched. Return movement of the arms I0, I I and the table I5 towards the lowered position causes the withdrawal of the sheet S from between the roller I34 and the ball I28 in a direction transverse to that in which it was originally fed, a movement permissible by the manner of mounting the roller. The embodiments shown and described are all book-stitching machines of the swinging saddle type and employing thread-stitching mechanism but it will be clear that the invention may egually well be employed with other forms of sheet-handling machines. Similarly the arrangements described may be provided with the various auxiliary mechanisms known in the art for facilitating the operation thereof, e. g. devices for aligning the told of the delivered sheet with the apex of the saddle and for making the delivered sheet lie flat upon the table; since these do not form an essential part of the invention they are not shown.

We claim:

1. The method of registering paper sheets or signatures in book-stitching machines which comprises the steps of engaging the tail end of the sheet or signature disposed upon a feed table to move it so as to bring its head end into engagement with a sheet fixing stop upon said table thereby to register the sheet, clamping said head end in such registered position upon said feed table, disengaging the tail end of said sheet and then conveying the sheet while clamped upon "said feed table to the stitching position and stitching it.

2. For the purpose of registering paper sheets or signatures in a paper sheet-handling machine, a sheet-supporting and conveying table, movable from a sheet-receiving position to a sheet-delivery position, a movable registering stop upon said table, means for bringing a sheet or signature received upon said table into abutment with said stop to register it and clamping means operable to maintain said sheet in registered position against said stop during movement of said stop and during movement of said table to the sheet-delivery position. 7

3. In a book-stitching machine for the purpose of registering paper sheets or signatures before stitching, a sheet-supporting and conveying table movable from a sheet-receiving position to a sheet-stitching position, a displaceable registering stop upon said table, a sheet-engaging device movable on said table to shift a sheet or signature received upon said table into abutment with said stop to register it, a movable clamping member for engaging and holding said sheet in abutment with said step during displacement thereof and cam means operable during the movement of the table from its sheet-receiving position to its sheet-stitching position for moving said clamping lever into its sheet-engaging and holding position during such movement.

4. Sheet-registering mechanism for a bookstitching machine having a sheet-supporting and conveying table movable from a sheet-receiving position to the sheet-stitching position comprising a registering stop upon said table, means for moving the sheet into registered position against said stop, a clamping lever movable into and out of clamping engagement with said sheet in the registered position, a fixed cam carried by the machine frame and mechanism carried by the table and operable by engagement with said cam during movement of the table towards the o 11 sheet-stitching position for causing movement ofsaid clamping" leverintoits clamping position. 5'. =-Sheet-'registring mechanism for a: book stitching machine having a swinging sheetsupporting table movable from a sheet-receiving position to a sheet-stitching posi-tion and comprising a registering stop iiponsaid table, asheetengaging member movable along saidtable for moving the-sheet into registered position against said stop, clamping meansfor-holding'said sheet inits registered position against said stop, "said onesideof the sheetand-a roller having-its 'axis of rotation disposed'tran'sversly to the direction of swinging -movement "of the sheet-supporting table on the other 'sid'e oi" the sheet and means for urging said-ball'and'roller towards one another toplampthe s'heettherebetween' during the swingingfnovem'ent of the sheet supporting table and during the stitching operation; i "6'. Sheet-registering"mechanism for a book stitching machine having a sheet-supporting table movable from a sheet-receiving mandate a sheet-stitching position and comprising a resiliently 3 displaceable sheet-registeringstop carried nporr said table for engagement With one end of the sheet fed to said =tab1e,-'means-opera'- tivly -conneoted with-thedr-ivi'ng shaft of the machine -'for returning-said stop to apredetermined) position subsequent to" the sheet-feeding operatiom clamping means for engaging said sheet t hold it in given position relative to said stop and m'echanism controlled by the operation of-the "machine for moving said clamping means into sheet-engaging position during movement of the table to the stitching position and 'subse quent tothe operation of s'aid stop-returning 11 9511 z1tu-.=t:tq 4-1 i :7"; -7-.' Sheet-registering mechanism for a bookstitching machine as claimed in claim 6 in which said stopreturningm'eans serve to lock the sheetregistering stop' in the predetermined position GHIiIig th Swinging movement" of the table and during the Stitching operation; 7 i

SS In a book stitcl iing machine having a sheet-- supporting t'able movable" betwen a position where sheets are reciv'ec'l thereo'n' and a position where such received sheets' 'are stitched; the provisicnof sheet ie'gis'tering" mechanisin comprising a stcpiearried upen said table -for en'gajging the hea'd'-'erid of -the fed sheet, aseco'nd stop carried u on said table ior en'ga'gin'g the=tail-end 'of'said sheet, controllable sheet-'clainping means associate'd' -with said first stop-'for'clampin'g the sheet'in fixed relation to said firststop,mechanism operatively connected Withthe -m'ain driving shaft of th'e iiiachineioi' moving-the second stop first-towards the first stopso as to bring the head end of thesheet into proper engagement therewith and then away fro'm said first stop and further mechanism operatively connected with" the main dr ivin'g shaft of the machinefor' controlling said sheet-clamping means to place suchmeans' in non gri'ppingcondition during the movement of the second stop to-bring the head end of the sheet into enga ement withthe first stop and to place such sheetclamping means in effective gripping conditiomdur ing "subsequent movement-of the sheet supporting table towards the "stitching poiti0n f'i :g 't'; 3i- 1 H QQ In a book-stitching machine for the purpose of sheet-registrationthecombination of a swinging sheet-supporting saddle 'Inov'ab'le from a'- sheet-receiving p'osition to a= sheet-stitching position, a slide. ban carried by saidsaddle; a

clamping means comprising a-ball disposed-upon sheet stop adjustably connected to said slide bar, asecond slide bar carried by'said saddle, a second sheet stop adjustably connected to said second slide bar, a sheet-clamping lever carried by said second stop and normally held in non-clamping position, a cam surface fixed to the saddle and engageable with said sheet-clamping lever to move it to sheet-clamping position, two cams fixed to the frame of the machine and engaged by separate followers carried by the sheet saddle, means operatively interconnecting one of said cam followers with said first slide bar whereby the-first stop is moved towards the second stop during swinging movement of the saddle towards the'stitching position to bring the fed sheet into abutment therewith and means operatively interconnecting'the second of said cam followers with the second slide bar whereby the second stop and the sheet in-contact therewith are moved during the swinging movement of the saddle towards the stitching position towards-the first stop to bring the sheet-clamping lever into engagement with said fixed cam'means and thereby to move it into its sheet-clamping position.

"10. Sheet-registering mechanism for a sheethandling machine having a sheet-supporting table movable from a'sheet-receiving position to a sheet-delivery position and comprising a sheet stop'carried by said table, a controllable sheetclamping device movably mounted on said table and 'mechanism operatively connected to the driving means for the machine for controlling said-sheet-clamping device to grip the sheet'and for moving said clamping devicesubsequently to the gripping of said sheet to bring the sheet into engagement with said sheetstop'and to maintain said sheet in gripped condition therea'gainst during movement ofthe table to the stitching position. 1

11. Sheet-registering mechanism for a paper sheet-handling machine having 'a sheet "table movable-between a sheet-receiving position and a sheet-delivery position, comprising a stop carried by said "table in the pathofthe'sheets fed to such table, braking meansoper'ableto enable free feeding of sheets to'the table and-for restrioting rebound movement of the'fed sheet from said stop and sheet-clamping means operatively connected to the dri-Ving'm'eans'of the machine for'engaging andjc lamping said sheet during movement of the-table to the delivery position.

-' 12. Sheet-registering mechanism as claimed in claim 11 in which said brakingmeans comprises a brush wheel resting lightly upon the sheet disposed upon the sheet-sup'portingtable and pivotally mounted by means of a one-way rotation clutch device'p'e'rrnitting its rotation only in'the feeding direction of the sheets."

13. Sheet-registering mechanism for a paper sheet-handling machine as claimed in claim "11 in which said braking means are carried by adjustable mounting means permitting the control of the braking pressure exerted thereby and the position of the point of contact thereof with the sheet.

' 14. Sheet-registering mechanism for a bookstitching machine having a swinging sheet saddle comprising a sheet stop carried by said saddle, means for registering a folded sheet fed to said saddle against said stop, clamping means operative during the'swinging' movement of said saddle to maintain said sheet in registered positionagainst said stop, a brush'lightlyengaging the surface of said table and mechanism for mov- 13 ing said brush with said saddle over part of its swinging movement but at a different speed relative thereto whereby the sheet on said saddle is smoothed and the fold of the sheet registered with the apex edge of said saddle.

l5. Sheet-registering mechanism for a bookstitching machine having a sheet-supporting table movable from a sheet-receiving position to a sheet-stitching position and comprising a normally fixed registering stop carried in an adjustable manner upon said table, a, sheet-clamping device adjustably carried upon said table adjacent said stop and operable to clamp the sheet fed to the table during movement of the latter from the sheet-receiving to the sheet-stitching position and means interconnecting said registering stop and said sheet-clamping device for enabling simultaneous adjustment thereof to accommodate different sized sheets and for holding said sheet in fixed relation to said stop.

16. The method of registering paper sheets or signatures in paper sheet-handling machines which comprises the steps of bringing the sheet to registration against a stop, holding said sheet in fixed relation to said stop and displacing said sheet and stop during its conveyance to a position for further treatment.

17. The method of registering paper sheets or signatures in book-stitching machines which in- 14 eludes the steps of bringing the sheet to be stitched to registration against a stop, holding said sheet in fixed relation to said stop, displacing said stop and sheet to registered position, and retaining the same in said position until after stitching.

18. A method of registering paper sheets or signatures on a sheet supporting and conveying table, comprising feeding a sheet onto said table, displacing said table to convey the sheet, displacing a stop into engagement with the sheet, holding the sheet in fixed relation with respect to the stop and displacing the stop and sheet to a registered position.

OSKAR Mt'iLLER. OSKAR KLEINSCHMIT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,485,905 Bischof Mar. 4, 1924 1,774,170 Clark et a1 Aug. 26, 1930 1,868,929 Thompson July 26, 1932 2,014,181 Kleinschmit Sept. 10, 1935 632,447 Dexter Sept. 5, 1899 

